2022-06-12 My 39th Birthday

Today was my 39th birthday and it was really a great day. Aside from the talk of my birthday and the cake and singing and whatnot, it didn’t feel like an unusual day. But it really was a very special day for me. I spent it doing what I love most and with the people I love most.

The morning was a typical weekend morning with coffee and talk, including with my mom who’s still in town. Bethany gave me my present and it’s great. I’d never heard of it but it’s a coffee mug that will keep your coffee at whatever temperature you select using an app. It has a battery and a charging station. It’s a pretty great idea and I can’t wait to use it.

Then the rest of the day was spent either in one-on-one time with the kids or all together as a family. Margaret and I went for a walk together (with Norah, which turned out to be a bigger deal than I would have expected), and I went on one-on-one bike rides with both Louisa and Jack. It’s so much fun watching them without the distractions of the rest of our chaotic life – the opportunity to talk to and observe them in a different light.

In the afternoon, we went to our neighbor’s house to play in their little backyard pool. The kids loved it and the adults loved that it was so shaded. Louisa’s seeming older by the day – she didn’t want to change into her bathing suit and get into the pool with the other kids. I get it. She’s the oldest and her tastes for what’s fun are changing. But I still want her to stay little.

The neighbor girl is an only child and she just adores our kids. Louisa and Margaret play the big sister role so well for her and it’s so fun to see all of them play together.

Julian also came over with his dad and the adults had some fun chat about all manner of things. It was a wonderful way to cap the day.

I went for another bike ride but didn’t set another PR. There was a pretty stiff headwind blowing out of the south that was just too much for me to overcome.